Top Digital Commerce Platforms with Best Features in 2024

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in July 2022 and was updated in Jan 2024 for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Digital commerce platform is software that businesses use to create, host, and manage online stores. Merchants can build branded storefronts to sell products and services. It's the foundation for online retail, facilitating interaction between consumers and sellers.

Digital commerce platforms are available in various types, including B2B, C2C, and C2B. These platforms offer a one-stop solution for businesses to manage their backend functions like accounting, inventory management, customer service, and order management. With this web-based application, merchants can manage their inventory and orders, communicate with customers, sync with other apps, and more.

It is a business model, not just a piece of technology. It provides a complete solution for businesses to manage their online storefronts and backend operations efficiently. In this article, we will discuss the features of a platform, the top 10 digital commerce platforms, and how to choose the right one for your business.

What is Digital Commerce

Digital commerce, or D-commerce, refers to the buying and selling of goods and services through digital channels. This encompasses everything from online retail stores and digital marketplaces to social media platforms and mobile apps. Digital commerce includes all aspects of the online shopping experience, from marketing and customer acquisition to transaction processing and customer service.

Watch this quick video for a better understanding.

Why Is Digital Commerce Important

- Expands Market Reach

Digital commerce breaks down geographical barriers, allowing businesses to reach a global audience. This increases potential customer bases and opens up new markets.

- Enhances Customer Convenience

Customers can shop anytime and anywhere, making it convenient and time-efficient. This flexibility often leads to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.

- Reduces Operational Costs

Running an online store generally requires lower overhead costs compared to a physical store. This includes savings on rent, utilities, and in some cases, staffing.

- Provides Data and Insights

Digital commerce platforms collect valuable data on customer behaviour, preferences, and purchase patterns. This data can be analysed to improve marketing strategies, product offerings, and customer experiences.

- Enables Personalization

With access to customer data, businesses can create personalised shopping experiences, which can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty. Personalised recommendations, targeted promotions, and tailored content are key aspects of this.

- Supports Omnichannel Strategies

Digital commerce can be integrated with physical retail and other sales channels to create a seamless omnichannel experience. This ensures consistency across all customer touchpoints.
 

Key Features of Digital Commerce Platform

The features offered by each platform may differ. The sheer number of platforms and features available can be overwhelming. It can be difficult to determine which platforms will meet your store’s needs, or which ones will be cost-effective since they are scalable. The following features can help you choose to win the platform:

1. A Single Unified Platform

Unified platform provides a single data source and reporting solution that enables self-service. The platform should integrate digital commerce, accounting, POS, inventory and order management, business processes, customer service, financial, merchandising, and customer service on the cloud.

2. Data Security

Information about your customers is protected against cybercrime when you have website security in place. Hence, digital commerce platforms specialising in providing enhanced security features, such as SSL certificates and two-factor authentication, are important.

3. Mobile Optimization

The goal of mobile optimization is to provide visitors accessing your site from mobile devices with a mobile-optimised experience. Many people prefer to shop and research items on their cell phones or tablets, so it is important to choose a mobile-friendly platform.

4. Order Management

Create a convenient purchase, fulfilment, and return process for the customer. Maximise profitability by centralising order management. It is ideal to view the inventory of all your supply chains and channels from a single view. An organisation that doesn’t have an order management system may struggle to manage orders or fill them correctly.

5. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

CRM refers to a strategy that manages interactions with customers, both existing and prospective. CRM streamlines processes, builds relationships with customers, increases sales, improves service, and increases profitability. Getting better relationships with customers will help you grow your business.
 

Top 10 Digital Commerce Platforms

#1 Digital Commerce Platform - Sekel Tech

Sekel Tech is an all-in-one digital commerce platform provider and offers everything for your online store. The platform helps retailers manage their online presence, store orders, and consumers’ journey from online to offline. With this platform, you can manage your inventory, optimise your site, and track conversions. Additionally, they offer live chat, phone, and email support 24/7. With Sekel Tech, anyone can easily sell online, in a retail location, or anywhere else.

Sekel Tech's digital commerce platform in India is perfect for a wide range of businesses, from startups and small businesses to large corporations and enterprises. Sekel Tech’s efficiency, automation, and access to critical information set it apart from the competition. Among Sekel Tech’s many features are business intelligence, inventory management, and shipping solutions. It also provides amazing capabilities for customer segmentation and personalization.

Features

Content Management, Web Traffic Reporting, Multi-Channel Communication, Geo Rankings, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Data Security.

Pros

- It is robust and feature-rich. 

- Excellent organic discovery performance. 

- Customer service is very responsive and helpful.

Cons

- No free version.

#2 Digital Commerce Platform - Wix

Wix is an easy-to-use tool for creating professional-looking digital commerce websites. Using the application, you can pick a theme, and add colours and features, such as a gallery, calendar, and other features. For assistance, you can use the online tutorial or contact customer support’s team of professionals.

The Wix platform automatically optimises your website for search engines and mobile devices. The Wix App Market is also available if your website was built with Wix. A wide variety of web apps are available to customise your site. Compared with Shopify or WooCommerce, Wix offers a greater variety of customizable templates. It’s free to use Wix, but it charges for premium plans if you need your domain or e-commerce site.

Features

Content Management, Calendar Management, Billing & Invoicing, Alerts/Notifications, and Confirmation/Reminders.

Pros

- Easy to use and set up. 

- Provides marketing automation services.

- Themes are available for free on this site.

Cons

- Poor SEO performance. 

- A lack of upselling capabilities.

- Having difficulty integrating with the marketplace.

#3 Digital Commerce Platform - BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a leading SaaS digital commerce platform that empowers merchants to build, innovate and grow online businesses of all sizes. This leading open SaaS solution offers merchants enterprise-grade functionality, customization, and performance while being easy to use and manage.

Enterprise-level eCommerce stores can use BigCommerce solutions for B2B wholesale websites. The platform offers a high level of uptime, fast page loading, and security, which is second to none. Compared to Shopify, BigCommerce offers more design customization options.

Features

Data Security, Discount Management, Cataloguing/Categorization, Data Import/Export, and Inventory Management.

Pros

- SEO performance that stands out.

- Multichannel selling capabilities.

- Provides flexibility and scalability.

Cons

- There is a higher pay rate in high-volume stores. 

- Loading speed is inconsistent. 

- One-click selling is not allowed.

#4 Digital Commerce Platform - Shopify

Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms for businesses. There are almost all the features you need for your online business – themes, quick customizations, easy product management, payment processing, order monitoring, shopping cart software, and so on. Those features are all built into the design of Shopify, as well as high levels of security.

Additionally, Shopify offers Shopify Plus for enterprise clients. Besides its most fantastic premium features, it costs more. Comparatively, Shopify’s interface is a bit more friendly than other eCommerce platforms.

Features

Inventory Management, Promotions Management, Multi-Channel Marketing, Mobile Commerce, and Email Marketing.

Pros

- Is well suited for drop shipping. 

- Applications that offer one-click selling. 

- An easy-to-use platform with fast loading.

Cons

- Inability to customise the checkout.

- Process Apps can be pricey in the long run. 

- Having trouble with SEO and content marketing.

#5 Digital Commerce Platform -  WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source digital commerce platform that allows you to create your online shop with themes, payment options, shipping methods, and more. The platform manages multiple customer accounts, payments, orders, inventory, and stores for small and large businesses.

In contrast to other platforms on this list, WooCommerce is built on WordPress and can be used from a WordPress site. You can convert it into an eCommerce store through the WooCommerce plugin if you already have a WordPress website.

Adding eCommerce capabilities to WordPress is easy with WooCommerce, which provides product catalogues, subscriptions, and memberships. It has extensions for printing shipping labels and integrating with email marketing platforms.

Features

Email Marketing, Reviews Management, SEO Management, Data Security, and Mobile Access

Pros

- Providers of multiple services.

- It’s best for Search Engine Optimization. 

- One-click selling apps are available.

Cons

- It needs a lot of extensions.

- It can be difficult to troubleshoot. 

- The cost of hosting is high.

#6 Digital Commerce Platform - Magento

Magento, an Adobe company, is a highly flexible digital commerce platform that offers extensive customization options for large businesses. Known for its scalability, it provides advanced SEO capabilities, detailed analytics, and various integrations.

Features

Catalog Management, Customer Accounts, Order Management, Marketing Promotions, SEO Tools.

Pros

- Highly customizable and scalable

- Strong SEO capabilities

- Extensive range of features and integrations

Cons

- Can be complex to set up and manage

- High cost for hosting and development

- Requires technical expertise

#7 Digital Commerce Platform - Squarespace

Squarespace is a user-friendly digital commerce platform ideal for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers beautiful templates and a straightforward drag-and-drop interface, making it easy to build and manage your online store.

Features

Template Management, Order Management, Inventory Tracking, Mobile Commerce, Email Campaigns.

Pros

- Easy to use with beautiful design templates

- Good integration with marketing tools

- Affordable pricing plans

Cons

- Limited scalability for large stores

- Less flexible for advanced customizations

- Lacks some advanced eCommerce features

#8 Digital Commerce Platform - OpenCart

OpenCart is an open-source digital commerce platform that provides a strong set of features and a large number of extensions. It is suitable for businesses of all sizes, offering a comprehensive range of tools to build and manage an online store.

Features

Multi-Store Management, Affiliate System, Backup & Restore Tools, SEO, Shipping Calculations.

Pros

- Open-source and free to use

- Extensive range of extensions

- Supports multiple stores

Cons

- Requires technical knowledge to set up

- Less user-friendly compared to other platforms

- Limited customer support

#9 Digital Commerce Platform - PrestaShop

PrestaShop is a free, open-source digital commerce platform that is highly customizable. It offers a wide range of features suitable for small to medium-sized businesses looking to build a fully functional online store.

Features

Product Management, Payment Gateways, SEO Tools, Shipping Management, Analytics & Reporting.

Pros

- Free and open-source

- Highly customizable

- Strong community support

Cons

- Requires technical skills to manage

- Can be expensive with additional modules and themes

- Limited built-in features compared to other platforms

#10 Digital Commerce Platform - Volusion

Volusion is an all-in-one digital commerce platform designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers a range of tools to build and manage an online store, including payment processing, inventory management, and marketing features.

Features

Inventory Management, Payment Processing, Marketing Tools, SEO, Mobile Commerce.

Pros

- User-friendly interface

- Good customer support

- Affordable pricing plans

Cons

- Limited customization options

- Fewer integrations compared to other platforms

- SEO tools are basic

These platforms offer a variety of features and capabilities, catering to different business needs and technical expertise levels. Choose the one that best fits your requirements and start building your successful online store.

How to Choose the Right Digital Commerce Platform

Selecting the right digital commerce platform is essential for your online business's success. Consider these key factors:

1. Business Requirements

- Size and Scale

Match the platform to your current and future business size.

- Product Range

Ensure it can handle your inventory size and variety.

2. Budget

- Cost

Evaluate setup costs, subscription fees, and additional expenses.

- Value for Money

Look for platforms that offer essential features without needing many paid add-ons.

3. Ease of Use

- User Interface

Choose a platform with an intuitive interface.

- Setup and Customization

Ensure it’s easy to set up and customizable to your brand.

4. Features and Functionality

- Core Features

Check for inventory management, payment processing, order tracking, and SEO tools.

- Advanced Features

Look for multi-channel selling, CRM, and analytics.

5. Scalability and Flexibility

- Growth Potential

Select a platform that can scale with your business.

- Customization

Ensure it offers flexibility in design and functionality.

6. Security and Reliability

- Data Security

Verify compliance with industry standards and secure payment gateways.

- Performance

Look for high uptime guarantees and fast loading speeds.

7. Integration Capabilities

- Third-Party Integrations

Check for compatibility with other tools and services.

- API Availability

Ensure the platform offers APIs for custom needs.

8. Customer Support

- Support Channels

Look for 24/7 support through live chat, email, and phone.

- Resources

Check for documentation, tutorials, and community forums.

9. SEO and Marketing Tools

- SEO Features

Ensure robust SEO tools are available.

- Marketing Capabilities

Look for built-in marketing tools like email campaigns and social media integration.

10. Reviews and Recommendations

- User Reviews

Research reviews to understand other businesses' experiences.

- Expert Recommendations

Consider expert ratings and comparisons.

By considering these factors, you can choose a digital commerce platform that aligns with your business needs and supports your growth.

Expand your knowledge with the informative article "Major e-commerce trends that can reshape the industry in 2024" featured in TheEconomicTime. This insightful piece provides valuable insights to navigate the dynamic world of the Indian retail industry in 2024.
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Digital e-Commerce?

Digital e-commerce refers to buying and selling products or services online using electronic means such as websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms.

2. What are the Benefits of Digital Commerce?

The benefits of digital commerce include convenience, wider reach, cost-effectiveness, and improved customer engagement and loyalty.

3. What is the Biggest Challenge in e-Commerce?

The biggest challenge in e-commerce is the competition and the need for businesses to constantly innovate and improve their customer experience.

4. What is the Future of Digital Commerce?

The future of digital commerce is expected to be shaped by technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and voice commerce.

5. What are the Latest eCommerce Trends 2024?

The latest e-Commerce trends for 2024 include increased use of chatbots, social media commerce, personalised experiences, and a growing focus on sustainability and ethical practices.
 

Conclusion

The requirements and needs of every online store vary according to its products, categories, target markets, and business journey. Likewise, B2B companies have different requirements for their online store, and a digital commerce startup won't have the same needs as a small business looking to expand online. Hope this guide helps you choose the digital commerce platform that's right for your online store.
 

Take Advantage of Sekel Tech's Digital Commerce Platform

Choosing the right digital commerce platform is crucial for meeting your business objectives and customer needs. If you want to attract and retain customers while staying competitive, you need a platform that offers the necessary features and customization options.

As a trusted partner for global digital commerce startups and enterprises, Sekel Tech understands the importance of this decision. Among the top digital commerce platforms in India, Sekel Tech stands out as a popular choice across various industries.

Sekel Tech provides a powerful, easy-to-use dashboard that supports many of today's leading brands. Our platform helps you manage your online presence, store orders, and track customer journeys from online to offline. With features like inventory management, site optimization, and conversion tracking, Sekel Tech offers everything you need to succeed.

Enhance your digital commerce strategy with Sekel Tech. Join the many brands that trust our platform to grow their online presence and achieve their business goals.

Get Started Today!
Explore how Sekel Tech can transform your business. Contact us now for a free demo and see the difference our platform can make.

Read More Articles -

1) What Is Digital Commerce: Management, Strategy & Experience.

2) Importance of Digital Commerce Roadmap for Brands.

3) 15 Best Digital Commerce Software for Brands in 2024.

4) Top 5 Ways in Which Digital Commerce Companies Grow Traffic.